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Here are some of our 2019-20 Music Centre Award holders and Scholars. Click on the links below, to find out more about the students and learn how they have benefited from their awards and scholarships.
Further information about the UEA Music Centre Awards can be found on our Music Centre Award page.
Further information about the UEA Music Scholarships can be found on our Music Scholarship page.
2019-20 Music Centre Award holders
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Charles Bernardin (LDC) - Composer
My interest in music production derives from, ironically enough, quite a philosophical part of me… in all of the producing work I do my goal is always to get the absolute best out of the musician I’m working with (including myself), because I believe art comes from a part of us that needs to be treated with great respect, especially in the studio, where there is opportunity to take real time over it!
My other work in the musical on-goings at UEA is as one of the committee members of Live Music Society, in which my role as ‘tech wizard’ keeps me sharp in my skills as live sound manager, and I occasionally enjoy contributing with my own performance.
I’m very proud to have obtained this award and the financial and administrative support from the Music Centre – with it I hope to help keep facilitating more and more wonderful musical opportunities!
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Alex Carter (HIS) - Double Bass
I'm Alex and I'm a history student at UEA, specialising in medieval history. I have been playing double bass and bass guitar for 13 years, achieving Grade 8 in 2015. My classical musical interest spans from Baroque to the Romantic period and I also have an interest in Jazz. I primarily perform in the UEA Symphony Orchestras and UEA Concert Band. In addition to classical playing, I have performed in the UEA Big Band, as well as large and small jazz ensembles. I have also performed in pit bands for operas and musical theatre productions, both on and off campus.
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Ellen Fraser (HSC) - Piano
I'm Ellen. I have been playing the piano since I was six, when my parents heard me trying to work out nursery rhymes on the keyboard and decided to get me some lessons. My love for music has continued throughout my life; along the way I have picked up some other instruments, including the bagpipes, which I played as a member of a pipe band (until my 16 year-old self no longer thought it was cool!). I studied music at UEA and graduated in 2014 with a first class honours. During that time, I was a member of the UEA Choir and received the Leslie Trafford Silver scholarship for piano performance. After graduating, I lived in Japan and learned taiko drumming, which I am lucky to be able to carry on playing in Norwich. I am now studying for an MSc in Occupational Therapy, and delighted to be involved again in the musical life at UEA.
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Niklas Henderson (CMP) - Cello
I'm Niklas. I have been playing cello since the age of 7 and passed my grade 8 with Distinction in 2015. In my 11 years as a cellist, I have been a Pro Corda Champion with the Bennett Diocesan Brandenburg Ensemble, was principal in the West Kent Youth Orchestra, and currently play with the Norwich Pops. This year is also my third year playing with the UEA Symphony Orchestra - two of which I have played as principal cellist. UEA has opened a door for me in terms of musical opportunities, and I hope to make music here for many years to come.
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Jessica Honey (LDC) - Voice (Soprano)
I'm Jess, and I'm studying English Literature at UEA. I've been a Music Centre Award holder since my 1st year and it has been fantastic, as it has supported me in developing my musicianship throughout university. I particularly love singing in Chamber Choir and my a capella group Concordia. In my role as President of Music Society, I also have an experience of student leadership, and I love being in Music Society ensembles.
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Abigail Langley (ENV) - Oboe
I’m Abi and I’m a BSc Geography student. I have been playing oboe for 12 years gaining grade 8 distinction in 2015. My musical background is dominated by orchestral playing, where I was first introduced to the cor anglais. However I also love playing and conducting smaller ensembles, such as chamber orchestras and wind quintets. My solo performance interests lie in 20th century pieces that push technical, harmonic and instrumental boundaries, making the Poulenc oboe sonata a particular favourite of mine. Whilst being at UEA I have enjoyed being a part of the symphony orchestra, the oboe trio, Earlham trio, a Mozart quartet, and community choir. The music centre award has been great to expand my repertoire, attend masterclasses from musicians such as Nicholas Daniel and help me afford reeds!
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Lexine Lee (LDC) - Voice (Soprano)
Read moreI'm Lexine and I’m studying Drama and English. Since starting choir at school in 2007, I have found an enjoyment for singing and music-making as part of a friendly community. As well as going on to achieve Grade 8 Singing, to expand my solo repertoire, I was also a member of the Royal Hospital School Chapel Choir, performing on occasions such as The St. Paul’s Cathedral Seafarer’s Service, The Royal Navy’s Admiralty Carol Service at St. Martin-In-The-Fields, the Opening Ceremony of the Invictus Games, and a Choir Tour to Malta. In addition, I have also had the honour of being a soloist in the school’s Choirs Concert, Carol Concert, and regular Chapel services.
I also have a strong musical theatre background – performing in a professional production of Annie; in British Youth Music Theatre’s The Dickens Girls; as Sandy in a school production of Grease; as well as training with the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, Guildford School of Acting, and the National Theatre. I recently directed UEA Drama Society’s musical Into the Woods.
Apart from singing, I am a keen trombone player – reaching Grade 4 during my last year at school, where I played with Marching Band, Concert Band, Brass Band, and Big Band. I am very excited to be a part of the music community at UEA!
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Konstantin Nicholas Rega (LDC) - Organ
I’m Konstantin Nicholas Rega. I was born in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, and currently attend East Anglia's well-known MA in Creative Writing program (with the Ink, Sweat and Tears Scholarship and a Music Centre Award). I have a BA (Honours) from The University of Kent. I am an internationally published poet and write a monthly Jazz Column for Into the Void. I have studied the organ for seven years and the piano for nine years. I have performed at Canterbury Cathedral, as well as various other venues in the United States, mainly at All Saint's Episcopal Church (Richmond, Virginia). I am a member of the British Harpsicord Society and the Tri-M Music Honor Society; a recipient of the RMTA Summer Music Camp Scholarship; and have been offered a $10,000 Music Scholarship by Gettysburg College’s Sunderman Conservatory and a $3,000 Music Scholars Award by East Carolina University’s Music Department.
2019 Music Scholars:
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Sophie Frear (PSY) - Voice (Soprano)
I'm Sophie. I'm a self-taught singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Cambridgeshire. I am confident playing the guitar, piano, ukulele, bass guitar and the mandolin, and am also learning instruments such as the flute, violin and drums. From the age of 12, I have been performing at festivals in my local area, leading me to become a regular performer at private events, music venues and in pubs. I was subsequently scouted by an independent producer and released some self-written songs under the name of Sunburst Records. My music has been played by many different radio stations in East Anglia and has been featured on the Cambridgeshire BBC Introducing radio show multiple times. My original song ‘Beautiful Disaster’, went viral on Facebook in 2014 receiving over 23,000 likes, 10,000 shares and 800,000 views. When released as my debut single in 2019, it reached number 34 in the iTunes Charts and was voted as the third best ‘Track of 2019’ at the Cambridge 105 radio’s New Music Generator Awards (an awards ceremony for East Anglian based musicians). In 2017, I became a runner up at the Cambridgeshire Young People of the Year awards, where I was nominated for my recurring work in singing to raise money for various charities and my work to help vulnerable people online through music.
Whilst at UEA, I have become a member of the Music Recording and Production Society, where I have learnt to record my music with the support of the society. I have become an active member of the Live Music Society, representing them at the University’s Headucate Gala and the Girls Gig, whilst also being selected as a music arranger for the UEAcapella club. In the next academic year, I aim to take part in more of the UEA music groups and advance my skills as a musician through the help of the Music Society.
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Helen Li (MED) - Piano
I’m Helen and I am a medical student at UEA. I have been playing piano since I was 4. I achieved my Grade 8 a few years ago and am now working towards a performance diploma. I have competed across numerous festivals in Northern Ireland and won several prizes and awards. I love to play music from the Romantic period, as I love the contrast between the delicate melodies and bold emotions, conveyed by the composers of that era. I plan to perform in more ensembles across UEA, in order to play alongside other musicians and gain a new perspective on music. Apart from piano, I also have a strong passion for singing pop and soul, and came second in Ireland for the 2019 Changwon World K-pop festival.
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Matthew Rhodes (MED) - Trumpet
I'm Matthew and I'm a medical student at UEA. I have been playing the trumpet for 10 years, gaining a DipABRSM for this 3 years ago. I also play piano, organ and saxophone and have gained my DipABRSM and Grade 8 for these respectively. As well as performing, I enjoy conducting bands and orchestras, as well as arranging music for these, and have a passion for music technology. On the other side, I enjoy ballroom dancing and have started this at UEA.